Head gaskets?

Is it looking like i need head gaskets?

•truck runs rough at first until warmed up (expansion causing resealing?)
•coolant is lower than should be ( its sipping coolant trough exhaust maybe)
•light tufts of white smoke from exhaust on first start up
•pretty sure i can smell the coolant burning during idle

any thoughts? Most likely head gaskets?

my truck is at 120k and i take meticulous care of it and complete every maintenance at or before the interval.

ig this is the famed “Toyota reliability”, at this point why not just drive a Subaru if im gonna deal with head gaskets at 100k

 

Using the coolant reservoir as a “gauge” isn’t ideal.
How is the level in the radiator?

I’d do a leak down test on the cylinders.
Or a combustion gas test on the coolant.
Maybe pull the plugs when it’s cold and look for signs of coolant in the cylinder(s).

 

Looks full to me, is the radiator full?
Have you added any coolant?

 

I will go ahead and do those tests, however my coolant was never before the full line for the last 120k miles so i think that says a lot on its own.

 

Its below the full line and it never was before, i started having this issue in the last 5k or less miles

 

The level in the overflow bottle will vary depending on temperature, I wouldn't be too concerned with it yet.

If you suspect coolant getting into the cylinders pull all the plugs, pressurize the cooling system with a cooling system tester, let it sit for several hours and look for coolant in each cylinder.

 

My truck puffs white condensation “smoke” when it’s cold outside when you first start it.
The weather is starting to get colder. You sure it’s not condensation?

 

This 1000% is Where I would go next. The test is free with rental tools from auto zone. No more guessing after , this and a leak down test are your only two definitive tests. Everything else is just a clue

 

It would definitely suck if your head gaskets needed to be replaced, but just realize that one-off things happen to all brands of vehicles. The cost of the repair work spread over just two years would be ever so much less than a vehicle payment on a new truck, especially now with interest rates where they are.

Either way, you’ve come to a terrific forum, full of helpful people who will help you get this sorted out. Looking forward to hearing what your leakdown test uncovers.

 

You can't really expect the coolant level to be exactly the same for 120k miles. Heck, that was over 10 years ago. If it's literally never been topped off for that long you can't condemn headgaskets just because it dropped a bit.

Do the tests mentioned above

Or buy a subaru

 

Coolant flush done at 100k

 

Yeah, you really need to do the proper test.
Or just keep an eye on the coolant level.
No need to condemn the HG at this point.

I’d inspect the coolant level in the radiator and top off the reservoir.
Drive it a few days and check it again.

 

Maybe you have a minor coolant leak somewhere. You need to thoroughly test for a bad headgasket, before jumping to conclusions and blaming Toyota. It would be abnormal for headgaskets to fail at that mileage.

You own an 11 year old vehicle, I'd say you got your reliability and then some.

 

The way you worded it sounded confusing. Carry on

 

Leakdown test time...

 

Unfortunately im not the first owner, im the 3rd and purchased at 85k

 

Then you don't know if the truck was abused previously. Even more reason not to question/blame Toyota and it's reliability.

 

I hightly doubt its a headgasket on a 2012. Unless you are having to add coolant on a regular interval you are fine. Just condensation during startup and typical cold startup vibes. Drive n call it good.

 

It is pretty rare that a 2007+ tacoma has head gasket issues.

i have a 2015 and my coolant level also goes up and down over time. it depends if it is summer, winter, if i just drove the truck, or not.

i would not worry about it. worry about it when you are low in coolant in your radiator and it isnt building pressure.

 

quick test is have someone start it and go "sniff " the exhaust, if its burning coolant you will smell it (actually its almost like tasting it, very distinctive) my head gaskets (2005) were bad for a year before it got bad enough to change, rough start ( cylinder misfire code) and gurgle noise in heater core.
I did the work myself, and even then parts were not cheap as I did all the timing chain stuff at the same time.
side note, I have friend with 97 4runner 3.4 it started using coolant, he dumped some fiberlock headgasket in a can in it and it has not used a drop since.